JenniferCorbett Dooren

In a notice published on its Web site Thursday, the agency said it was starting a test program to see if photos would help consumers identify recalled food products contaminated with salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria as well as those recalled for having ingredients like nuts or dairy not listed on product labels.

The agency said the test program would last for about six months and would apply mostly to so-called class I recalls or those that are deemed the most serious by the FDA.

"A class I recall is one in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," the FDA said.

Typically, a company recalling a food issues a press release about the recall. The FDA then posts those releases on its own Web site as a way to alert consumers about the recall. The releases contain lots numbers of the affected products but usually not a picture.

The agency said there were more than 100 class I recalls last year, and that there was an average of 188 such recalls the previous five fiscal years.

The most recent recall occurred late Wednesday when ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) advised consumers to throw away certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter that have been linked to a salmonella outbreak. Federal health officials have said about 288 people have been sickened in 39 states since August.

The FDA said it wants industry and consumer comments on the photo plan "to ensure that it has been of substantial benefit to consumers" before deciding whether to make the plan permanent.

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